When designing a commercial space, there are a staggering number of flooring options to consider. It can be difficult to differentiate between the estimated 27,000 flooring products on the market and identify the one that best suits your project.

With many flooring manufacturers using the same type of yarn and similar construction techniques in their carpet, one of the main differentiators goes entirely unseen once the flooring is installed: the carpet tile backing. Today I'm looking at four reasons why cushion-backed carpet should be your go-to floor covering for interior environments.

1) Your Designs Will Last

The last thing you want is to create a stand-out space for your client, only for its appearance to deteriorate rapidly once they start using it.

The backing of modular carpet plays an important role in the long-term performance and appearance retention of your chosen design.

The appearance of hard-back carpet worsens quickly because the carpet fibers directly absorb the impact of foot and wheeled traffic. Open cell cushion backing transfers that impact to the backing instead, and protects the surface of carpet tiles from wear and tear.

Open cell cushion backing has been shown to extend the life of your carpet tiles by as much as 40-50% over hard-backed modular carpet. It keeps it looking like new for much longer to continue creating the striking impression that you envisioned for your clients.

2) It Can Streamline Your Project

One of the biggest benefits of open cell cushion backing is that it's non-reactive: it won't react with any traces of adhesive left on the subfloor from a previous installation and cause floor compatibility issues. You can do away with costly, time-consuming floor preparation, and have a shorter, simpler installation process.

Rather than coordinating all the various steps of installation (removing existing adhesive, sealing and priming the floor, and then laying the flooring), or juggling different schedules to keep your project on track, you can streamline and simplify the process by just removing the old floor and installing the new one.

3) Your Floor Will Feel as Good as It Looks

Interior design directly shapes the experience that people have when using a space. By selecting cushion-backed carpet, you will improve the comfort of a space, concerning acoustics and physical comfort.

Open cell cushion-backed carpet has been shown to absorb 50% more noise than hard-backed products. This means that even in an open-plan space, your design will reduce background noise levels, which is directly linked to lowering stress levels and improving productivity.

Additionally, cushion backing uses the same technology found in high-performance athletic shoes, to provide greater underfoot comfort. Cushion backing can reduce muscle fatigue in standing workers by as much as 24% and heel impact loads by up to 30% - particularly important in commercial spaces where employees will spend a lot of time on their feet, or in office environments that implement sit-to-stand working to enhance employee health and wellness.

4) It Maximizes Your Design Freedom

Ultimately, you aim to design a visually stunning space for your clients that also feels great to use day-to-day. Cushion backing is uniquely built into all Milliken modular carpet collections, affording enhanced comfort benefits along with the design flexibility of tiles.

Carpet tiles are available in a range of sizes, and different sizes enable you to create a myriad of design aesthetics. Whether you wish to include accent tiles for bright pops of color, create a particular pattern, or facilitate wayfinding in a large space, modular carpet can be laid in many arrangements to shape the unique aesthetic you envision for each interior environment.